So , does anyone still think Bradley is starting quality after these playoffs?

[rondohondo]

He is shooting 35% fg's , 28.5% 3pt , is only getting to the line for 1 ft a game , and averaging 1 ast a game for this playoff series.

I have been saying it all year that he is best suited as a 7th or 8th man off the bench, but in no way is he a starting caliber SG on a playoff team . 

A lot of people have cited his 15 ppg average and defense making him a top 10 sg in the league , I don't see him even being top 20 if you count bench players who play SG .


Worst of all , he plays hero ball all the time. Especially when the crowd is going crazy like last night . It's like he gets caught up in it and just starts chucking every chance he touches the ball, with no regard to the shotclock , game clock or how the game is going ( how other players are shooting and working offensively )


I would either try to package him with some picks and move up in this years lottery , or just put him on the bench , move Smart to SG and try to bring in a real PG who can run the offense .

[BitterJim]

On a team with legitimate #1, #2, and possibly #3 scorers, absolutely.  His main problem on O is that he's forced to play a way bigger role than he should, as the #2 option.  Withvless pressure on him offensively, he could put more into defense and essentially be a floor spacer on offense.

At the very worst, he's a 3-and-D player with elite on ball defense.  In the right lineup, he'd be a great weapon (especially next to a bigger PG)

[Fafnir]

Why in the world would people be convinced by 3 games in the playoffs compared to over 100 as a starter the past two years?

I love the idea that a guy with 19.8 usage and 12 shots a game is "hero ball". He' s a jump shooter and not a creator. If he gets the ball after a screen or action he's likely to shot. He's not straight chucking or ball hogging at all.

[Lucky17]

I honestly don't know what to think of Bradley anymore.

I think he can be an effective starter, but I think under very particular circumstances surrounded by the right complementary personnel. I think he needs to play next to a bigger guard who can create and run the offense.

And I wonder whether that can be possible given the present roster.

[Who]

I'd say Avery Bradley is borderline top 20 amongst starting SGs.

That does make him a solid enough starter.

A below average starter but capable.

[Ilikesports17]

If Bradley for #12 and Rodney Hood was something the Jazz would actually do Id do it. That being said I think he can still be a starter on a playoff team so long as he is the #5 guy. He did a tremendous job on Irving last night, really was fantastic, but Cleveland isnt giving him any airspace to shoot and his offense is poor as a result.

[csfansince60s]

TP to the OP.

And it's not just Bradley. The value of some of our players has decreased because of these playoffs, not increased as many who wanted us in the playoffs often proffered. Their weaknesses and flaws have been exposed and magnified by a real team ( which I loathe) who rolled over against us twice in the last week of the season.

[PhoSita]

Bradley is what he's been for a while.  Not a bad starting option, but not a very good one, and a matchup issue for the team because he defends one position and plays offense at another.

[LooseCannon]

I think Bradley is the player on the roster who would be the best complement if put in a starting lineup with two stars with no overlap of position.

Given the current makeup of the roster, I think Bradley taking an open jumper early in the shot clock before the defense is set is often at least as good of an option as pulling the ball back and getting into a half-court offense.

The Celtics need upgrades in the frontcourt much more than they need upgrades in the backcourt.

[CelticGuardian]

TP to the OP.

And it's not just Bradley. The value of some of our players has decreased because of these playoffs, not increased as many who wanted us in the playoffs often proffered. Their weaknesses and flaws have been exposed and magnified by a real team ( which I loathe) who rolled over against us twice in the last week of the season.

Agreed, only good take away is that Brad Stevens can make his guys compete. Hopefully that lures Free agents from declining teams.

[PhoSita]

I think Bradley is the player on the roster who would be the best complement if put in a starting lineup with two stars with no overlap of position.

Given the current makeup of the roster, I think Bradley taking an open jumper early in the shot clock before the defense is set is often at least as good of an option as pulling the ball back and getting into a half-court offense.

The Celtics need upgrades in the frontcourt much more than they need upgrades in the backcourt.

I agree with all of that. 

[cman88]

Ainge tried to tank guys...he traded our two best players in Rondo/Green and somehow the team played better with them gone.

the only way we would be able to tank this year would be to trade/get rid of anyone with some sort of upside/value like sullinger/Bradley/olynyk/zeller etc. for pennies on the dollar and replace them with D-leaguers and play horrible basketball.

I don't think that is Ainge's way of thinking. he is hoping to turn some of those guys into assets.

there was no way we were getting a top 5 pick this year. and truthfully there isn't many "game changers" outside of the top couple of guys. maybe we can package our picks together and move up and grab someone ainge sees with upside.

but us missing the 1st round and picking 15 or 14 and us picking 16 and getting swept in the first round really doesn't make a big difference in the future of the franchise.

[BDeCosta26]

He is shooting 35% fg's , 28.5% 3pt , is only getting to the line for 1 ft a game , and averaging 1 ast a game for this playoff series.

I have been saying it all year that he is best suited as a 7th or 8th man off the bench, but in no way is he a starting caliber SG on a playoff team . 

A lot of people have cited his 15 ppg average and defense making him a top 10 sg in the league , I don't see him even being top 20 if you count bench players who play SG .


Worst of all , he plays hero ball all the time. Especially when the crowd is going crazy like last night . It's like he gets caught up in it and just starts chucking every chance he touches the ball, with no regard to the shotclock , game clock or how the game is going ( how other players are shooting and working offensively )


I would either try to package him with some picks and move up in this years lottery , or just put him on the bench , move Smart to SG and try to bring in a real PG who can run the offense .

Haha. It's three games against a top 3 NBA team and legit title contender. And Bradley is doing everything well besides shooting. His D on Irving has been excellent. That's where his biggest value lies, in top-tier defense.

AB has always been a fairly inconsistent shooter, and three games doesn't discount 120-odd games of better numbers. Bradley could start on a healthy OKC team and they'd be even more of a title contender. We're relying on a guy who is clearly a 4th or 5th option on offense to be our first option most of the time he's on the floor. Because of this, some fans get the idea that he's supposed to be that guy and should be producing more, thus clouding the reality of who he really is and what kinda value he holds.

Our guys holding our own against an obscenely more talented Cavs team helps everyone's value. Most other GMs can see that we're forced to lean far too much on Bradley, and that Stevens got desperate for a win last night so KO didn't get a chance to contribute. Individual statistics mean a lot less in a playoff series like this when it comes to assessing a players value.

And I think someone mentioned this here, but AB can't really play hero ball. He's not a ball-handler. He isn't often in a position to chuck up a shot when he shoulda made the extra pass. 95% of the time he gets the ball it's in a set piece like a screen, handoff or pick and pop that's meant to get Bradley an open look. That's not really hero ball.

[Moranis]

Why in the world would people be convinced by 3 games in the playoffs compared to over 100 as a starter the past two years?

I love the idea that a guy with 19.8 usage and 12 shots a game is "hero ball". He' s a jump shooter and not a creator. If he gets the ball after a screen or action he's likely to shot. He's not straight chucking or ball hogging at all.

He has been awful in the playoffs no doubt, but he hasn't exactly been a good SG in the regular season either.  His eFG% the last two seasons has been 48.5% and 49.0%.  He has been under 2 foul shots a game every single season of his career (and was just 1.3 this year).  He doesn't pass the ball.  He doesn't rebound the ball.  Now he doesn't turn it over or foul all that much either. 

12.3 shots would be fine if he was scoring more than 11 a game. 

Bradley is not a starter on any sort of real contender.  His game is much more suited as first guard off the bench type player.  Frankly, that is what I would be doing with him on the Celtics and start Thomas and Smart.

[slamtheking]

If Bradley for #12 and Rodney Hood was something the Jazz would actually do Id do it.

I'd be surprised if Utah were just willing to give up Hood for him, nevermind the #12 pick too.